Car door



April 8, 1941. G. R. TREPTOW ET AL CAR DOOR Filed Aug. 19, 1958 w a :mm m so/ 02 7 mwwd N F M we. W m6 w fiw m w Patented Apr. 8, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CAR DOOR Application August 19, 1938, Serial No. 225,736

7 Claims.

This invention relates to car doors and is concerned primarily with a construction capable of shutting off light which would otherwise enter the car between the meeting edges at the upper margin of the main and auxiliary doors of double door constructions.

In the construction and association of the main and auxiliary sliding doors for railway house cars and in their relationship with the portions of the car side adjacent to the door openmg, it is essential that the entry of direct and reflected light into the car be prevented. Where such light can. find its way into the car there exists a path permitting entry of snow, rain and the like as well. The railways therefore insist on the exclusion of light and to this end subject the doors and surrounding structure to rigid inspection. Structures which permit the entry of direct or reflected light are accordingly rejected by them. With the exception noted below light has been successfully excluded. Prior to the instant invention, however, light would find its way into the car between the meeting edges of the main and auxiliary doors above the front stop for the main door carried by the auxiliary door. This invention contemplates the provision of a construction which will. serve as a baffle to light tending to enter the car at the point indicated.

Where main and auxiliary doors are utilized to close door openings in the sides of railway house cars, jambs or posts are customarily secured to the forward vertical margin of the auxiliary doors. These jambs are advantageously employed in both straight sliding and lift doors to effect automatic latching of the auxiliary doors in closed position. Castings are normally utilized for this purpose and are secured to the top and bottom of the posts and to the side plate and side sill or door track respectively. In addition to their latching function, the castings fastened to the side plate and side sill or track serve as abutments against which the post castings strike tolimit closing movement of the auxiliary doors. It is proposed and it is a further object of this invention to utilize. the castings secured to the side plate to intercept light which would otherwise enter the car between the edges of the main and auxiliary doors near the top of said doors and be visible from the inside of the car without sacrificing the function of the castings above described.

A further object is to provide abutment and latching means secured to theside plates of railway house carscapable of obstructing the pas- ;sage of light between' the meeting. edges of main and auxiliary doors at the upper margins thereof and of serving as guiding means for said doors.

Other objects of the invention will become clear as the description thereof proceeds.

In the drawing forming part of this specification:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary elevation showing the invention in connection with the main and auxiliary doors of a railway house car.

Figure 2 is a vertical section taken on line 2--2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a View similar to Figure 1 looking from the inside of the car.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing the parts disassociated.

Figure 5 is a horizontal section taken on line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawing in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated, the numeral ll] designates a side plate of a railway house car. The side plate H) is substantially Z- shaped in section and embodies an upstanding flange ll, an outwardly extending web l2 and a depending flange I3. Secured to the depending flange l3 as by means of rivets I4 is a header member l5 which as illustrated is substantially J-shaped in section. The horizontal leg l6 of the header extends outwardly of the side plate 10 and the outer portion l1 thereof is turned upwardly in order to provide a trough adapted to trap foreign matter which might otherwise enter the car. The side plate Ill, additionally, carries a Z-shaped door retaining bar 18 fastened to the depending flange 13 of the side plate as by rivets 14a. extending through said flange and a vertical upstanding leg IQ of the retainer. The web 20 of the door retainer extends outwardly from the side plate and the leg 2| thereof extends downwardly from said web in spaced relationship to the side plate and the header Hi. There is thus provided a space within which the upper edges of main and auxiliary doors 22 and 23 are received and guided.

Inasmuch as a detailed description of the doors at their meeting edges will suffice to provide a sufficient background for a detailed description of the invention, only this portion of each door is illustrated. It will be understood that the particular construction of the doors shown forms no part of the instant invention, the doors being shown merely for purposes of illustration.

The main "door 22 embodies a metallic. panel 24 provided with spaced horizontal corrugations 25 and reinforced along its upper margin by means of anangle member 26 arranged so that the vertical leg 21 thereof is secured to the outside of the panel 24 and the horizontal leg 28 projects inwardly in overlapping relation to the J-shaped header |5. The horizontal corrugations 25 merge into a vertical corrugation 29 formed in the panel 24. The front vertical margin of the panel is reinforced by means of a stiffening member 38, the web 3| of which is secured to the outer face of the metallic panel 24 as by means of rivets 32. A relatively short flange 33 projects outwardly from the web 3| substantially at right angles'to the panel and a relatively longer flange 34 also extends outwardly from the web 3| as more clearly appears in Figure of the drawing. The upper portion of the main door 22 is additionally reinforced by a metallic backing plate 35 which extends across the upper horizontal corrugation 25. A reinforcing vertical backing plate 36 extends across the vertical corrugation 29 and is secured to the panel 24 on opposite sides of this corrugation.

The auxiliary door 23 embodies a metallic panel 31 formed with spaced horizontal corrugations 38 and a vertical corrugation 39 adjacent the forward vertical edge of the door. The upper portion of the auxiliary door is reinforced by means of an angle member 46 similar to the angle member 26 on the main door and by a horizontal backing plate 4| which extends across the upper horizontal corrugation 38. The vertical corrugation 39 is reinforced by means of a vertical backing plate 42 which extends across and is secured to the metallic panel on opposite sides of the vertical corrugation 39.

There is secured, additionally, to the front vertical margin of the auxiliary door a substantially Z-shaped stop member 43 having a flange 44 fastened to the vertical margin of the auxiliary door as by rivets 45, an outwardly extending web 46 and a forwardly extending flange 41. The web 46 as more clearly shown in Figure 5 of the drawing is adapted to be abutted by the flange 33 of the reinforcing member 38 secured to the main door so as to limit closing movement of said door. The forwardly directed flange 41 of the stop member 43 is disposed in overlapping relationship with the forward vertical margin of the main door so as to provide a weather-proof and light excluding construction at the meeting edges of the door for the extent of the reinforcing member 30 and its associated stop member 43.

In Figure 2 of the drawing these associated members terminate below the upper edge of the door. Their line of termination is indicated by the reference numeral 48. The instant invention contemplates the obstruction of light tending to enter the car between the meeting edges of the main and auxiliary doors above the reinforcing member 30 and the door stop 43.

To this end a combined stop and latching casting 49 is secured to the inside of the depending flange l3 of the side plate It) as by means of rivets 56. For this purpose the member 49 is provided with a vertical attaching flange 5| having a rabbeted portion 52 within which the vertical leg of the J-shaped header I5 is received as clearly shown in Figure 2 of the drawing.

From the vertical attaching flange 5| there depends the body portion 53 of the member 49. The body portion 53 is arranged so as to lie below the horizontal flange l6 of the J-shaped header l5. It comprises an upper wall 54, a rear vertical wall 55, side walls 56 and 51 and a bottom wall 58. As clearly shown in Figure 5 of the drawing, the side walls 56 and 51 extend outwardly into close proximity with the inner faces of the main and auxiliary doors. These walls,

additionally, are provided with oppositely extending vertical flanges 59 and 68 which at their outer edges are turned inwardly as indicated at 6| and 62 so as to provide an effective guide for the upper margins of the main and auxiliary doors as they approach their closed position. The vertical flanges 59 and 58 are disposed in close proximity to the inside of the main and auxiliary doors.

The vertical attaching flange 5| of the member 49 is reinforced by means of vertical ribs 63 and 64. The rib 63 terminates at the upper wall 54 of the body portion of the member 49 and the'reinforc'ing rib 84 extends inwardly beyond said body portion so as to provide an abutment or stop as hereinafter explained. The body portion 53 is reinforced by means of horizontal ribs 65 and 66.

A flanged construction extends inwardly from the rear 'wall 55 of the body portion 53 and serves as a rigid locking detent. This construction embodies a vertical flange 61, a flange 68 extending upwardly from flange 61, a vertical flange 69 disposed in spaced relationship to abutment rib 64 to provide a locking recess and a horizontal flange 18 connecting the flange 69 with the rib 64.

As is customary in double door construction of the character described, the auxiliary door 23 carries at its front vertical margin a post or jamb 1|. In the illustrated embodiment this post is substantially Z-shaped in section and comprises a vertical leg 12 bent inwardly at its outer margin as indicated at 13 to form in conjunction with the flange 41 of the auxiliary door stop 43 a recess adapted to receive a front vertical margin of the main door. The post 1| includes also an inwardly extending vertical web 12 and a relatively short vertical flange 14 arranged parallel to the door.

A post cap 15 preferably in the form of a casting is rigidly secured to the upper portion of the post 1| as by means of rivets 16. The post cap 15 embodies the attaching flange 11, side flanges 18 and 19 and a top wall 88 connecting the side flanges. Rising from the top wall 88 is a rigid locking structure 8| which includes an inner wall 82, an upwardly extending flange 83 and an upper .wall 84, a portion of which is inclined as indicated at 85. The wall 8| is reinforced by means of an intermediate rib 86 and by an end rib 81 which is projected upwardly as indicated at 88 above the upper wall 84 so as to provide a striking surface. Substantially in alinement with the end rib 81 the top wall 84 is providedwith a depending flange 89 which as hereinafter explained serves as a locking detent. The doors illustrated are of the lift type. Such doors in their lowered position rest directly upon supporting tracks and are provided with lifting mechanism (not shown) to elevate the doors and dispose their weight upon rolling means. The particular type which may be utilized with the illustrated doors forms no part of the instant invention and is hence not illustrated or described. The lifting and lowering of the auxiliary door, however, is utilized to effect unlocking and locking thereof in closed position. The necessary clearance to permit lifting of the doors, clearly shown in Figure 2 of the drawing, is that clearance between the upper edge of the reinforcing angle 26 and the outwardly directed web 20 of the door retainer Ill. 53inch clearance is also provided by the invention between the wall 89 of the post cap 15 and the wall 58 of the body portion of the member 49.

In Figures 1 to 3 inclusive the main and auxiliary doors are illustrated in their lowered and locked position. In Figure 4 of the drawing the auxiliary door is shown in its elevated position. In this position as the door moves toward the left the locking detent 89 sufficiently clears the upper portion of the inclined flange 68 extending inwardly from the body portion of the member 49. The sliding movement of the auxiliary door toward the left will be stopped upon engagement of the rib 81 provided on the post cap and the abutment rib 54 formed on the member 49. When such engagement occurs the door is permitted to lower and seat itself upon its supporting track. At this time the locking detent B9 is disposed vertically above the recess formed by the flanges 69 and 10 and the rib 64 so that upon lowering movement of the auxiliary door the locking detent 89 will be received in said recess and the auxiliary door will be automatically locked.

The main door is then moved to closed position and the relationship between the main and auxiliary doors is that illustrated in Figure of the drawing. In this position of the doors it will be apparent that the body portion of the member 49 extends across the meeting edges of the doors and will act effectively to intercept any light which might tend to enter the car between these meeting edges above the stop member 43. It will be apparent, moreover, that in the final closing movement of the main and auxiliary doors the inwardly bent edges of the flanges 59 and 60 will serve to properly guide the doors.

It will be apparent that numerous changes and modifications in the details of the invention will be clear to those skilled in the art. It is intended, therefore, that all such modifications and changes be comprehended within this invention, which is to be limited only by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

We claim:

1. In a railway house car having a side plate and main and auxiliary doors slidable upon the outside of said car, a member having an attaching flange secured to said side plate and a portion depending from said flange and projecting outwardly beyond said flange in close proximity to the inside of said doors when the latter are closed, said depending portion extending across the meeting edges at the upper margins of said doors and obstructing the passage of light at said meeting edges into said car.

2. In a railway house car having a side plate and main and auxiliary doors slidable upon the outside of said car, a member having an attaching flange secured to said side plate and a portion depending from said flange, said depending portion comprising an inner wall, side walls. and a bottom wall, said side and bottom walls terminating in close proximity, to the inside of said doors at the upper margins thereof, said bottom wall extending across the meeting edges of said doors, said side walls being disposed on opposite sides of said meeting edges.

3, In a railway house car having a side plate and main and auxiliary doors slidable upon the outside of said car, a member having an attaching flange secured to said side plate and a portion depending from said flange, said depending portion comprising an inner wall, side walls and a bottom wall, said side and bottom walls terminating in close proximity to the inside of said doors at the upper margins thereof, said bottom wall extending across the meeting edges of said doors, said side walls being disposed on opposite sides of said meeting edges and vertical flanges extending from said side walls and positioned in close proximity to the inside of said doors.

4. In a railway house car having a side plate and main and auxiliary doors slidable upon the outside of said car, a member having an attaching flange secured to said side plate and a portion depending from said flange, said depending portion comprising an inner wall, side walls and a bottom wall, said side and bottom walls terminating in close proximity to the inside of said doors at the upper margins thereof, said bottom wall extending across the meeting edges or said doors, said side walls being disposed on opposite sides of said meeting edges, a locking flange extending inwardly from said inner wall and adapted to cooperate with locking means on said auxiliary door.

5. As an article of manufacture a casting having a securing flange, a substantially box-like structure having inner side and bottom walls depending from said flange and an inwardly directed locking flange carried by the inner wall, said securing flange being adapted to be fastened to the side plate of a railway house car,

said bottom and side walls being adapted to lie in close proximity to the inside of main and auxiliary slding doors of said car at the upper margins of said doors with said bottom wall extending across the meeting edges of said doors.

5. In a railway house oar having a side plate, main and auxiliary doors slidable upon the outside oi said car, a front stop for said main door secured to said auxiliary door and a front edge reinforcement and sealing strip secured to said main door, said stop and said reinforcing strip having overlapping relationship and terminating below the upper edges of said doors, a member secured to said side plate and projecting outwardly therebelow into close proximity to the inside of said doors, said member extending downwardly below the upper edges of said stop and strip and across the meeting edges of said doors.

7. In a railway house car having a side plate and main and auxiliary doors slidable upon the outside of said car, a member having an attaching flange secured to said side plate and a portion depending from said flange, said depending portion extending outwardly into close proximity with the inside of said doors and across the meeting edges thereof to intercept light passing between said meeting edges, said member having a locking detent for said auxiliary door disposed inwardly of said depending portion.

GEORGE R. TREPTOW. CARL E. FABIAN. 

